The different image types that can be specified are (from the Imagick::getImageType doc page): Imagick::IMGTYPE_UNDEFINED Imagick::IMGTYPE_BILEVEL Imagick::IMGTYPE_GRAYSCALE Imagick::IMGTYPE_GRAYSCALEMATTE Imagick::IMGTYPE_PALETTE Imagick::IMGTYPE_PALETTEMATTE Imagick::IMGTYPE_TRUECOLOR Imagick::IMGTYPE_TRUECOLORMATTE Imagick::IMGTYPE_COLORSEPARATION Imagick::IMGTYPE_COLORSEPARATIONMATTE Imagick::IMGTYPE_OPTIMIZEThe MATTE variants are equivalent to GrayscaleAlpha, etc. in the ImageMagick command line. If you're making something grayscale, I would recommend using IMGTYPE_GRAYSCALEMATTE.<?php$im->setImageType(Imagick::IMGTYPE_GRAYSCALEMATTE);?>